Tag Archives: Deployment

After nine long months deployed to Afghanistan, Sgt. Kristianpeter DiStefano is home in Howard Beach.

His arrival back stateside Dec. 6 was delayed two hours after his airplane seat was given away, said Ellen Buonpastore, DiStefano’s mother.

“He was dressed in full uniform, and they gave his seat away,” Buonpastore said.

But the sergeant was eventually given an escort to LaGuardia Airport, and DiStefano, 29, went to Lenny’s Clam Bar where he was greeted by family, friends and local elected officials. His mother said it feels “wonderful” to have her only son home.

“Now I’m going to fatten him up, make him happy,” Buonpastore said. “I’m very proud of him.”

This was DiStefano’s fifth deployment, but first to Afghanistan. The career-Army man was previously stationed in Iraq and Kuwait. DiStefano is scheduled to deploy again, this time for Africa at the end of January.

“He tells me, ‘Mom, I go back because now somebody else gets to go home and see their mom and their family,’” Buonpastore said. “It’s a brotherhood.”

The Army man didn’t always know he wanted to join the ranks, but after he did, his mother said he has come to love the job.

“He loves taking care of the younger soldiers,” she said. “A lot of kids are coming out of foster care and they have nowhere to go, so they wind up in the Army. My son takes them under his wing.”

A driver is under arrest for allegedly plowing into a dozen vehicles in Queens. Police say Michael DeLorenzo jumped into a friend’s car early Sunday morning following a dispute in Astoria. When responding police attempted to stop him, they say he took off and ran through two red lights, striking a car at each intersection. Read More: Wall Street Journal

Small child’s severed foot found on front lawn in Rosedale

A man taking out the garbage Sunday night made a gruesome discovery. The man found the severed foot of a small child on his front lawn. The child is believed to be three or four years old. Search dogs worked the area on 139th Street, but apparently found nothing else. Read More: CBS News

26 Army National Guard soldiers from Queens ready for deployment to Afghanistan

Twenty-six men and women from the Army National Guard left for training ahead of a deployment to Afghanistan on Saturday. There were tears, hugs and lots of goodbyes in Queens at an American Legion during a farewell ceremony for 26 members of the 14th Finance Detachment. Read More: CBS News

Ex-tribal chief peddled ecstasy

An elderly former upstate Mohawk chief who once ran on an anti-drug platform in a tribal election has just been charged with ecstasy-trafficking in New York City. Federal agents last week busted Native American honcho Philip Tarbell after he allegedly tried to sell $60,000 worth of the psychedelic drug — stashed in a candy box — to an undercover officer near JFK Airport. He had already pleaded guilty to peddling marijuana last year. Read More: New York Post

Queens Courier crowns ‘Kings’

The Queens Courier hosted its 4th Annual Kings of Queens at Terrace on the Park, at which leaders in the business and no-for-profit worlds were feted. Read More: Queens Courier

FAA Investigates Lasers Shined On Planes At LaGuardia

The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating Sunday after lasers were pointed at two airplanes on the same runway at LaGuardia Airport the previous night. Officials say a laser was pointed at a Jetlink flight that was landing around 6 p.m. Saturday and another was pointed at a United plane about an hour later. Read More: NY1